Big guys have a magnetic effect on other big guys, also in the blues. Think of Muddy Waters and the great musicians he used to have around him. The same goes for John Mayall, in the category "white boys that know how to sing the blues". George 'Mojo' Buford is one of those peerless harp players Muddy employed, a treasure from the old school. It seems that this kind is disappearing. I'll always associate him with that big leather belt of harps, slung across his chest. George is not the kind of soldier who goes to a war without his weapons. He's 79 now and not the kind of guy that retires. His style of playing is the classic postwar amplified harp style, reminiscent of the older Chicago harp players. He also started very early, was taught harmonica from the age of five and played professionally by his teenage years. Upon the departure of George Smith from Muddy's band in the late fifties, Buford was invited to replace him. He would leave and rejoin Muddy's popular band several times before finally making Minneapolis his home base. Bluesfans from the Netherlands and Belgium did have the occasion to see him perform several times. But ok, to the point now.
At least two records from Buford belong on your shelf. The first one: "Still Blowin' Strong" with hard hitting solos and impressive vocals, he must have been in top form on that one. The second: look for "Mojo Buford's Blues Summit", a high energy set of Chicago blues with a number of excellent guitarists, including Sammy Lawhorn and Little Smokey Smothers. With those two, you'll have all you need. Or do you want more? Well ok; worth searching for is also "Luther Georgia Boy Snake Johnson: The Muddy Waters Blues Band", a rare outing by the Muddy Waters Band with Muddy letting his bandmembers dominate. There are great moments from Otis Spann, Mojo Buford, Sammy Lawhorn and (of course) Georgia Boy Johnson, IF you can find it. Remembering that album makes me want to have a glass of my favorite brandy. Chicago Blues rules! See ya next week!
Still Blowin' Strong - Blue Moon 1996
Mojo Buford's Blues Summit - Red Rooster 1981
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